2008 Woodie Awards
Mavs lose third period leads, games
by Josh Berhow
Issue date: 1/15/08
Section: Womens Sports
For a team that's averaging just 2.2 goals per game, it's no surprise that the Minnesota State women's hockey team has struggled in its last few series.
After beating North Dakota Dec. 1, the Mavericks are 1-7 since, and have scored two goals or more just twice in that span. MSU was swept by Minnesota and Wisconsin at home - teams they are a combined 3-72-3 all-time against - and split with Robert Morris in an away series.
MSU was back in action over the weekend, hosting No. 2 Minnesota Duluth, but still couldn't find the win column, losing 2-1 Friday and 5-2 Saturday.
"I definitely think it's a step to build off," said Amanda Stohr. "We just played the No. 2 team in the nation, and we played them well both nights. I think we could have come away with a win either night."
Friday's game started with a scoreless first, but the second period brought a plethora of roughing penalties, where 11 total skaters were sent to the penalty box.
"We didn't want to back down to Duluth. They're always a physical team, and it's always a physical series when we play them," Stohr said. "We wanted to step up and if they were going to shove us we wanted to shove them back."
Late in the second period, MSU finally got on the scoreboard when Lindsay Macy forced a turnover as UMD was trying to advance out of MSU's zone, and dropped a pass to Kala Buganski to her left. Buganski's shot missed, but Maggie Fisher knocked in the rebound. Buganski and Macy were credited with the assists.
The Bulldogs, however, tied the game in the third when Iya Gavrilova, the Bulldogs' freshman phenom, tapped in a shot that trickled through goaltender Britni Kehler's pads. A costly goal after the Mavs played most of the third period very defensive minded, dumping the puck numerous times.
As the final seconds of the third period ticked away, the Mavericks were trying to hold the puck along the boards in their zone, trying to push the game to overtime. The puck slipped out, and UMD's Heidi Pelttari found Karine Demeule in front of the Mavs net for a one-timer and game-winner - with just 06.7 seconds remaining.
"I would say for about 50 minutes we played to win, for about 10 minutes we played to hold a lead," Vizenor said. "We didn't cover the people we needed to cover at the end of the game, and there's no excuse for that."
Kehler received the loss for the Mavs, and recorded 31 saves in an outstanding performance that included 14 third-period saves.
"Brit was unbelievable. She didn't deserve to lose," Vizenor said.
After MSU was down 1-0 early in Saturday's game, Stohr tied the game when she sent a wrist shot over goaltender Kim Martin's left shoulder in the first period. Jodi Helminen was credited with the helper. Christina Lee then gave MSU the lead with an unassisted goal in the third period.
The lead didn't hold, however, as UMD scored four third-period goals, a few on rebounds and one on an empty net, to end the game.
Mavericks' freshman Paige Thunder started in goal for MSU, her first ever WCHA start, in place of Kehler, who was out with an injury.
"In her first WCHA start, for her to play as hard as she did, I'm proud of her effort," Vizenor said. "We just need to do a better job of tying up sticks in front of the net."
The Mavericks will be off this weekend before they travel to Minneapolis to face the Gophers.
Josh Berhow is a Reporter staff writer
After beating North Dakota Dec. 1, the Mavericks are 1-7 since, and have scored two goals or more just twice in that span. MSU was swept by Minnesota and Wisconsin at home - teams they are a combined 3-72-3 all-time against - and split with Robert Morris in an away series.
MSU was back in action over the weekend, hosting No. 2 Minnesota Duluth, but still couldn't find the win column, losing 2-1 Friday and 5-2 Saturday.
"I definitely think it's a step to build off," said Amanda Stohr. "We just played the No. 2 team in the nation, and we played them well both nights. I think we could have come away with a win either night."
Friday's game started with a scoreless first, but the second period brought a plethora of roughing penalties, where 11 total skaters were sent to the penalty box.
"We didn't want to back down to Duluth. They're always a physical team, and it's always a physical series when we play them," Stohr said. "We wanted to step up and if they were going to shove us we wanted to shove them back."
Late in the second period, MSU finally got on the scoreboard when Lindsay Macy forced a turnover as UMD was trying to advance out of MSU's zone, and dropped a pass to Kala Buganski to her left. Buganski's shot missed, but Maggie Fisher knocked in the rebound. Buganski and Macy were credited with the assists.
The Bulldogs, however, tied the game in the third when Iya Gavrilova, the Bulldogs' freshman phenom, tapped in a shot that trickled through goaltender Britni Kehler's pads. A costly goal after the Mavs played most of the third period very defensive minded, dumping the puck numerous times.
As the final seconds of the third period ticked away, the Mavericks were trying to hold the puck along the boards in their zone, trying to push the game to overtime. The puck slipped out, and UMD's Heidi Pelttari found Karine Demeule in front of the Mavs net for a one-timer and game-winner - with just 06.7 seconds remaining.
"I would say for about 50 minutes we played to win, for about 10 minutes we played to hold a lead," Vizenor said. "We didn't cover the people we needed to cover at the end of the game, and there's no excuse for that."
Kehler received the loss for the Mavs, and recorded 31 saves in an outstanding performance that included 14 third-period saves.
"Brit was unbelievable. She didn't deserve to lose," Vizenor said.
After MSU was down 1-0 early in Saturday's game, Stohr tied the game when she sent a wrist shot over goaltender Kim Martin's left shoulder in the first period. Jodi Helminen was credited with the helper. Christina Lee then gave MSU the lead with an unassisted goal in the third period.
The lead didn't hold, however, as UMD scored four third-period goals, a few on rebounds and one on an empty net, to end the game.
Mavericks' freshman Paige Thunder started in goal for MSU, her first ever WCHA start, in place of Kehler, who was out with an injury.
"In her first WCHA start, for her to play as hard as she did, I'm proud of her effort," Vizenor said. "We just need to do a better job of tying up sticks in front of the net."
The Mavericks will be off this weekend before they travel to Minneapolis to face the Gophers.
Josh Berhow is a Reporter staff writer
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